Electric lamp socket



F. J. WATTS ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET Marh 31, 1942.

Filed May 9, 1940 :5 M" Z NW 5,

A L n Patented Mar. 31, 1942 UNITED STATE- ELECTRIG LAIVIP SOCKET FelixJ. Watts, Detroit, :Mich., assignor to Utility Patent Trust No. 17,938,Union Guardian Trust 00., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan1940, Serial No. 334,112

Application May 9,

8 Claims. (01. 173- 339) This invention relates to improvements inelectric lamp sockets and more particularly to a socket provided withmeans to hold the socket in locked relation upon a support.

There are many instanceswhere it is desirable to position an electriclamp-upon a supportin such a manner that the lamp may be'readilyattached to the support and yet insure its attachment against excessivevibration. For instance, in the present automotive vehicles electriclamps are employed'to illuminate the instruments upon the instrumentboard of the vehicles, in tail lights, signal lights, and other placeswhere it is difficult to apply the lamp andsocket from the front of thesupport and whenapplied it is most desirable that the vibrations ofthevehicle do not loosen the attachment to cause the lamp to becomeinoperative or the socket detached from the support. v y

It is an object of this invention to provide a socket to receive anelectric lamp bulb -with means that will allow the lamp and socket to beinserted through the back of a'bracket to support it on the instrumentboard or through the casing of a tail or signal light and lock thesocket thereto against detachment by vibration of the socket support andyet allow the socket to be readily detached by hand.

It is another object of this invention to providev means when the lampis used to illuminate the lens of a signal light, which usually does notemploy a reflector, to register the filament of the lamp when the lampsocket is attached to the casing of the signal light to present itsgreatest lighting effect. o

With these and other objects in view, reference is made to theaccompanying sheet of drawing which illustrates a preferred form of thisinvention with the understanding that detail changes may be made withoutdeparting from thescope thereof.. V 1

In the drawing: I

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of this improved socket assembled withthe lamp in place withina signal light, showing the housing to which thesocket is attached in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1 with the lamp removed,- showingthe housing and lens in section. .7 Figure 3 is a projected view of theparts of Figure 1, shownin perspective. In the embodiment of thisinvention illustrated, it is preferable to provide the support I with acircular opening 2 having two or more radial slots 3 through which thelamp 4 and the lamp receiving member of the socket with the lockingmeans may be inserted. The socket 5 is a tubular member having anannular right-angular flange 6 at the open end adapted to engage therear of the support 'I andmounts within the tubular portion a lampreceiving member 1 preferably of the usual split sleeve type havingbayonet slots 8 for receiving the usual lamp base pins 9. Supportconnectors for-the lamp of commercial form are preferably mounted upon adisc ll] of insulating material secured in the end of the socket 5opposite the flangedportion. I

The improved means of releasably locking the socket 5 with the flange 6in engagement with the rear of the'support against detachment includes acylindrical member II of resilient material, such as springjmetal, of adiameter to be received within the opening 2 of the support. oppositelydisposed tongues l2 are provided depending from the cylinder which arepassed through apertures l3 provided therefor upon the annular flange 6and their ends bent to engage the under side of the flange to rigidlysecure'the cylindrical locking member ll to'the socket 5. Slits M areprovided in the cylindrical surface on each side of each tongue I! andthe body of the member I l on each side of each tongue bearing portionand separated-therefrom is provided with diametrically oppositestruck-out portions or flanges 15 of a size to freely pass through theradial slots 3 of the circular opening 2 in the support. These flangesor looking members 15 are preferably struck out at an angle to theannular flange 6 of the socket 5, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, and areso arranged that when the member II is passedthrough the opening 2 withthe members l5 passing through the slots 3 and the socket 5 is rotatedto the right, the flanges l5 will be caused to ride over the body of thesupport and place the body of the member I i under tension, in otherwords, the portions of the cylindrical member ll between the continuousslots 14 act as springs holding the outstanding members or flanges l5 incontact with the adjacent surface of the support and drawing the flange6 into engagement with the opposite side ofthe support. V 7

It is preferable to construct the lamp receiving member I to extendslightly aboveithe top of thelocking member II and spin over the metalat the top to close the opening between the body of the lampreceiving'members -l, as shown in Figures land 3. a a I It is customaryin electric lamps, such as the lamp 4, used intail lights or signallights, to

mount the lamps filament I6 in the form of a coil in a horizontal planebetween connecting wires I! so that if there is no reflector placed backof the filament the maximum amount of light passing through the lenswould not be obtained unless the placing of the filament was positionedparallel to the face of the lens. invention contemplates the provisionof means to bring the filament I6 in position to project the maximumamount of light through the said signal light lens L when the lamp andlamp. socket have been attached to the bottom I of the housing H. Thisis accomplished by determining the proper relation between the slots 3in the bottom of the housingHwhich forms the support I and the amount ofrotation of ,the socket in the opening 2 to produce the requiredlocation of the filament and then striking up'a curved tongue I8 uponthe annular flange 6 of the socket 5 to enter one of the slots 3 uponrotation and to engage the free end of the tongue I8-with the body ofthesupport at the otherside ofthe'slot3. 1

By this construction the'lamp 4 may be mounted .in the socket andheld inengagement'by the bayonet slots 8 in the member! and'then passed throughthe opening 2 in the support I with the flanges or outstanding portions.I5 passing throughthe slots 3and*.upon* rotation to the right until thestop or end of the tongue I8 engages the body of the support at one sideof the slot 3, the socket 5 is secured against vibration with. the lampfilament I6 positioned to g'ivethe maximum amount of light projectingthrough the lens L of the light housingI-l and as the tongue I8 iscurved the socket :5 may be readily detached by manually rotating it inthe reverse direction until the locking flanges -I5 register with'the'support slots '3.

' What I claim'is: I

1. The combination of a support havinga circular opening therein withradial slots formed in the body of the support with an electric lampsocket having an annular flange at one end adapted to engage the rear ofthe support, said flange mounting a perforated inverted cupshaped springlocking member adapted to pass through the opening in the supportallowing the base of an electric lamp to pass through the perforationfor mounting in the socket, said locking member having side walls spacedapart from the perforation with members struck out from said sidewallsadapted to be passed through the said slots in the opening in thesupport, and upon rotation to engage the outer surface of the supportand draw the socket flange into engagement with the opposite surface ofthe support.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the sides of the invertedcup-shaped member on each side of the struck out members are slotted andare joined to each other by the integral annular turned-in top.

3. Means for detachably locking an electric lamp socket to a supporthaving a circular opening with radial slots with the lamp socketinclud-, ing a cylindrical casing mounting a lamp receiving member andthat end of the casing provided with a right-angular annular flangeadapted to engage the body of the support about said opening, saidannular flange having secured thereto a perforated inverted cup-shapedresilient looking means having depending side walls spaced apart fromthe perforation passing about the lamp receiving member and having aplurality of outstanding ears formed in the sides thereof This s adaptedto pass through the opening slots and upon rotation detachably lock thesocket to the support.

4. Means for detachably locking an electric lamp socket to a supportinglamp housing having a circular opening with radial slots provided in thehousing to receive the lamp and the lamp socket including a cylindricalcasing mounting a lamp receiving member and that end of the casingprovided with a right-angular annular flange adapted to engage the bodyof the support about said opening, said annular flange having securedthereto a perforated inverted cup-shaped resilient locking means passingabout the lamp receiving .member and having depending side walls spacedapart-from the perforation with a plurality 01f outstanding ears formedin the said side walls adapted to pass through the opening slots andupon rotation detachably lock the socket to the support, said annularflange being provided with a curved struck uptongue' between the wall ofthe cup-shaped member and th 'periphery-of the flange adapted to rideinto one of the slots during rotation of the socket and engage the bodyof the support to limit the rotation of the socket. 5. A look socket foran electric lampincluding a cylindrical casing open at oneend andprovided about that end with an "annular "flange, a lamp receivingmember mounted Within the socket and electrical connectionsmou'nt'edinthe opposite end of the socket; 1a perforated invertedcupshaped member having depending side walls spaced apart from theperforation mounted on the socket flange adapted to be passed through acylindrical opening in alamp socket support, and means on the sides ofthe cup-shaped member adapted to engage the body of the] support uponone side and draw the annulargflangeinto engagement with the other sideof the socket, and wherein the cup-shaped member is of resilientmaterialand is provided with depending tongues adapt'ed'to be passed 'fth'roughslits provided therefor in the annular flange and be 'secured to saidflange, and wherein'the walls of said cup-shaped member are providedwith slots on each side of the depending tongues dividing thecylindrical walls and the two sections integral with the perforated topof ,saiyilgm ember, I

6. A look socket for an electric lamp including a cylindricalcasingflopen at oneend and provided about that end with an annularflange, a lamp receiving member, mounted within the Sock-1 et andelectrical connection s mounted in the opposite end of the socket, aperforated inverted cup-shaped member having depending side walls spacedapart from the'perforation mounted on the socket flange adapted to bepassed through a cylindrical opening in a lamp socket support, and meanson the sides of the cup sihaped member adapted to engage the body of thesupport upon one side and draw the annular flange into engagement withthe other, side of ,the socket, and wherein the cup-shaped member is ofresilient material and is provided withdepending tongues adapted to bepassed thrqu h slits pro-' vided therefor in the annular flange and besecured to said flange, and wherein the walls of said cup-shaped memberare provided with slots on each side of the depending tongues dividingthe cylindrical walls and the two sections integral with the perforatedtop c: saidmember, and wherein the means to' engageth'e" body" of the sup rt are formed integral with ea'ch of thedivided sections.

7. A look socket for an electric lamp including a cylindrical casingopen at one end and provided about that end with an annular flange, alamp receiving member mounted within the socket and electricalconnections mounted in the opposite end of the socket, a perforatedinverted cup-shaped member having depending side walls spaced apart fromthe perforation mounted on the socket flange adapted to be passedthrough a cylindrical opening in a lamp socket support, and means on thesides of the cup-shaped member adapted to engage the body of the supportupon one side and draw the annular flange into engagement with the otherside of the socket, and

wherein the cup-shaped member is of resilient material and is providedwith depending tongues adapted to be passed through slits providedtherefor in the annular flange and be secured to said flange, andwherein the walls of said cup-shaped member are provided with slots oneach side of the depending tongues dividing the cylindrical walls andthe two sections integral with the perforated top of said member, andwherein the support engaging means are in the form of ears vided aboutthat end with an annular flange, a lamp receiving member mounted withinthe socket and electrical connections mounted in the opposite end of thesocket, a perforated inverted cup-shaped member having depending sidewalls spaced apart from the perforation mounted on the socket flangeadapted to b passed through a cylindrical opening in a lamp socketsupport, and means on the sides of the cup-shaped member adapted toengage the body of the support upon one side and draw the annular flangeinto engagement with the other side of the socket,

and wherein the cup-shaped member is of resilient material and isprovided with depending tongues adapted to be passed through slitsprovided therefor in the annular flange and be secured to said flange,and wherein the walls of I said cup-shaped member are provided withslots struck out from the bottom of the wall section on each portionbetween the contiguous dividing slots.

8. A lock socket for an electric lamp including a cylindrical casingopen at one end and proon each side of the depending tongues dividingthe cylindrical walls and the two sections integral with the perforatedtop of said member, and wherein the support engaging means are in theform of cars struck out from the bottom of the wall section on eachportion between the contiguous dividing slots, and wherein theoutstanding ears are formed at an angle to the annular flange on thesocket.

FELIX J. WATTS.

